Introduction
     It used to be, the Christian church influenced the culture, leading by example and thus, establishing the mores and standards of behavior in society. The church may not have completely understood the Truth but acted upon what they knew as best they could. Then, there was a spiritual conscience with shame informing what was regarded as acceptable social behavior.
    However, crept in was ‘the spirit of the age’. The church failed to discipline its people and excommunicating them which would not submit to correction, caring more for pleasing them than obeying Yahweh. Grace was exalted above obedience.
    Gone was accountability for sin. Taking license to “loose on earth” (Matt. 16:19) such of those Laws regarded as disagreeable, the church justified Law-breaking … uncaring that a little leaven leavens the whole lump (Gal. 5:9).
    Some, separating themselves from the others’ disorderly conduct, strove to maintain a semblance of righteousness and continued for a time … until they, too, succumbed to a people wanting to hear the smooth words of the doctrines of demons with which to tickle their ears (2 Tim. 4:3).
    Mutation after mutation occurred within the Christian camp, each time spawning more and more division. Consequently, the Christian church having compromised itself in order to accommodate a ‘new order’, has had far-reaching effects. Whether one acknowledges it or not, the church has influenced the culture by contributing to the breakdown of law and order. And the decadent behavior come in its wake has spread like gangrene through all of society.

The Government: Downstream from the Church
     Sadly, the failure of the church to acknowledge sin as sin has spread to the government – itself set opposed to those Assemblies which still hold true to Yahweh’s laws – by yielding to the demands of the culture by making laws that repress the foundation of ordinances premised on the Bible and upon which, two and a half centuries ago, this government of the people, by the people, for the people was instituted with the shedding of much blood, sweat, toil, and tears.
    Yes, America has become a divided house, polarized politically, socially, economically but especially, spiritually. While there are those who seek to maintain righteousness, others are bent upon destroying every trace of righteousness. Little do these latter care, that Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to [any] people, Proverbs 14:34.
    For example: In the weeks preceding the general election in November 2024 in the United States, the Democratic Party released an advertisement in behalf of its presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, calling for, and urging married Bible-believing women to vote for its candidate, even if their ballot would be contrary to that of their husbands. Women were urged even, if questioned by their husbands, to lie for whom they voted.
    This was a blatant attack on the Biblical understanding of the very order Yahweh ordained for marriage – become a common trend in western society in recent years: sociopolitical institutions urging woman to subvert the authority and headship of their husbands – and a trend, incidentally, that threatens all of society. Many are either ignorant of, or indifferent to, what is emerging in the culture and what is also, bringing injury to the basic family unit of marriage: the emergence of feminism that seeks to subvert the authority of the man as the head of the household.
    Yahweh has established order for a reason, and since before the fall of man in Eden, Satan has sought to make chaos and confusion out of order. One of the adversary’s greatest ploys is division; and the family and households of faith are become the targets of his endeavors.

Attack on Headship
     In his first letter to the Corinthians, the first among many problems the Apostle Paul addressed was this issue of division. He asked, “Has Messiah been divided?” (1 Cor. 1:13a). (The New Amercian Standard Bible used throughout, unless otherwise noted.)
    We might ask, “Is the family divided?” Messiah declared in Mark 3:25, If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
    In Eden, because the woman was first in transgression (Gen. 3:6; 1 Tim. 2:14), Yahweh committed the headship to the man (Gen. 3:16). But Satan has convinced the world that this is somehow unfair and evil toward women. But in the beginning, and even before the fall, Yahweh purposed that the man should be a covering for the woman … to protect her from harm.
    However, if the relationship between the man and the woman (the house) can be divided, it is doomed to fall. One way Satan accomplishes this division in a household, is to provoke its members to challenge the headship of the husband/father.

Yahweh’s Portraiture of a Husband/Father
     Yahweh has in His Scriptures established the order of headship:
    But I want you to understand that Messiah is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and Yahweh is the head of Messiah. ... For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man, 1 Corinthians 11:3, 8.
    This, however, does not mean the man is to abuse his headship over the wife, as the woman was made from man’s rib, not from his foot. She is supposed to be by his side (rib) not under his boot (foot).
    This portraiture of the man – husband or father, depending under whose authority the woman is positioned – as head over the woman, is illustrated in the narrative of Numbers 30:3-12 which addresses the prerogative the man may exercise either to permit or disannul a vow the woman under his watch-care should make when he hears or learns of it. His headship over her supplies him with the authority to protect her from a potentially harmful or injurious pledge she might make.
    Scripture recognizes the woman as first in transgression. 1 Timothy 2:12-14 reads,
    But I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man … [to whom was given superordinate authority, Gen. 1:26, 2:18-20] …but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created [and] then Eve. And [it was] not Adam [who] was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression.
    This may seem like a cruel punishment upon women, but it is intended for their protection. A man is to keep his woman on the right path and to guard her with all his might which Adam, the first man, failed to do. The Apostle Peter, too, admonishes husbands, saying, “You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman … (1 Pet. 3:7). Both Paul and Peter emphasize the heavy responsibility laid upon the man in governing and protecting his household … so loving their wives as Messiah loved the members of His Body and for whom also, He gave His life (Eph. 5:25).
    Contrary to what some women may believe, men are endowed with this authority by the Creator because they represent their families, and their families represent them – whether negatively, or positively. To illustrate this, we have no farther to look than to Scripture.
    In Genesis, chapter 34, we read of Shechem violating Jacob’s daughter, Dinah. Jacob became aware of Shechem’s vile behavior. His sons Levi and Simeon who, perhaps without their father’s knowledge, exacted what they assumed as just retribution upon the men of Shechem’s city – requiring all their men to become circumcised, ostensibly for the ‘privilege’ of intermarriage and then afterward, slaying them while they were recovering (Gen. 34:20-30).
    But alas! They, by avenging their sister, displeased their father Jacob who alleged they had made his name to become “odious among the inhabitants of the land” (Gen. 34:30). Jacob’s rebuke of his sons, however, is overshadowed more by his fear that “the inhabitants of the land” the Canaanites and Perizzites among whom his family dwelt, would gather themselves together against him and attack and destroy him and his household. Indeed, his sons’ reply, “Should he (Shechem) treat our sister as a harlot?” (verse 31) serves as a reproof to the father who ought himself, exercised the responsibility of becoming a covering for his daughter.
    Another example: the High Priest Eli was dilatory in rebuking his sons, Hophni and Phinehas who profaned the sacrifice offerings of the people by taking their portions before Yahweh had first received His (1 Sam. 3:13-16) and who “lay with the women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting” (1 Sam. 3:22).
    These accounts from the pages of Scripture, among others that could be cited, illustrate the responsibility heads of households bear in extolling Yahweh’s authority before the larger community.

Problems with Being Unequally Yoked
     Assaults upon the Biblical headship in the home can produce major issues within the family, even dissolving family unity. A family works best when the husband/father and wife/mother are in agreement in mind, speech, judgment (1 Cor. 1:10) and particularly, in matters of morality and child discipline. Disagreements on these latter two produce confusion and tension in relationships and contribute to members of the family separating themselves one from the other.
    Those most often affected are the children. Children learn more by example. Parents are supposed to be good examples to their children. With that in mind, parents’ behavior can shape the behavior of generations. A united couple, therefore, is a strong couple.
    Married couples should be “equally yoked” in their practice of faith and agree together on what constitutes moral behavior. 2 Corinthians 6:14 reads: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? Paul’s use of the word “yoke” is interesting in light of what’s read in Deuteronomy 22:10, You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.
    This dynamic of an ox being “unequally yoked” with a donkey imposes a much heavier burden on the much stronger ox and might even bring injury to either the stronger ox or inadvertently, to the weaker donkey. Applying this principle to the home, where one is strong in faith and the other weak in faith or having none at all, household government becomes less efficient and might even break down altogether.
    Thus, a husband with his wife should both believe in Yahweh and live accordingly, to His Word, as it is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of Yahweh” (Matt. 4:4).

Marriage: Echad with Yahweh and Yahshua
     In the beginning, Elohim said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth,” Genesis 1:26.
    Notice, “Elohim said let us make man in our image.” Fewer things describe what relationship looks like than the Hebrew word, echad which means “one” and more specifically, “a unified one” in mind, speech, and judgment (1 Cor. 1:10) and as much implied in Yahshua’s own words: I and [My] Father are One, John 10:30, KJV, and perhaps appreciated in Yahweh’s saying, For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh, Genesis 2:24. (emphasis, ours)
    It has been said, that Yahweh was the Draftsman and that Yahshua is the Craftsman. Yahshua Himself said, My food is to do the will of Him Who sent me, and to accomplish His work … My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working … For I am come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him Who sent Me, John 4:34, 5:17, 6:38.
In a proper marriage, both husband and wife need to be echad, not only with one another but they should also be echad with Yahweh and Yahshua, as well. There is a benefit to a husband and his wife being echad, that is, equally yoked in faith: if one falls, the other may lift his or her partner up (Eccl. 4:9-12). Moreover, a three-fold cord in which Yahweh and Yahshua make up the third ‘strand’ is not easily broken. (See also Matthew 18:20.)
    Years ago, there was a message posted by a first-day church at curbside which read, “Loved the wedding, now invite Me to the marriage.”
    Here is a rhetorical question: Before whom do a man and woman make their marriage vows? While some may say, “ministers and other witnesses” (which is true), most importantly it is before Yahweh Who bears witness to, and Who ultimately blesses a marriage – What therefore Yahweh has joined together, let no man separate, Mark 10:9.
    Yahweh and Yahshua are both participants in a marriage with a man and a woman. In fact, without Them, the marriage is weak at best and at worst, may be doomed to failure. Scripture tells us that unless Yahweh builds a house that it will not stand (Psa. 127:1). It is Yahweh’s desire that we are echad, that is, one in mind, goal, and purpose with Him. We see this expressed so well in Yahshua’s prayer during His passion in Gethsemane (John 17:21, 22, 23).
    Three times, in Yahshua’s Gethsemane prayer He asserts His desire that His disciples be echad, one with Him and The Father. Certainly, He desires the same thing for a husband and wife who are also His disciples. One may ask “Why does He desire this?” because in having been laborers together with Him (2 Cor. 6:1), He has gone to prepare a place for us … in heaven, from which He will return to receive us to Himself, that where He is, we may also be (John 14:2-3).
    Thus, it is important that a married couple here, and in this present time, be in agreement together, and with Yahweh and Yahshua, so that all things work together toward a peaceful and prosperous marriage.
    Moreover, according to Scripture (Deut. 17:6; Matt. 18:16, 2 Cor. 13:1), the testimony of two or three equates to truth and suggesting, therefore, that a married couple who are echad are witnesses/representatives for Yahweh and His Word.
    Indeed, might those apart from having echad, have cause to see the witness of the light of Yahweh and Yahshua in the married couple who are echad in mind, speech, and judgment and which is manifested in their assuming the Master Yahshua’s example of humble obedience to His Father’s commandments; in their seeking not to be served, but serving; in neither pursuing their own things, but glorifying Yahweh the Father in all that they do.
    For as Yahweh and Yahshua, agreeing together in goal and purpose, work together to accomplish much, so also do a couple in an echad marriage covenant. A marriage relationship in which there is little or no agreement about how to make the marriage work will be strained – much like a rope is strained when pulled from its two ends. Unfortunately, many couples fight each other and this results in a game of ideological tug-of-war … a scenario in which little of nothing is accomplished.

Marriage: A Complementary Relationship
     Yahweh made marriage a complementary relationship. Each partner to the marriage has attributes to offer to the marriage that the other lacks. Each has particular skills or talents that Yahweh has given to build up the marriage. Each is like half of a portrait; both are required to complete the portrait, and both together should reveal the character of Yahweh’s nature. Perhaps the wife is more emotional showing the understanding and caring properties of Yahweh, while the husband may be of a more firm and serious disposition, displaying Yahweh’s just nature. But both work together with Yahweh and for the mutual benefit of each other.
    Why is all of this important? because the marriage is the first institution ordained by Yahweh (Gen. 2:24). The marriage, and the family marriage produces, influence all other social behaviors and laws in the community … even in a congregation of believers.

Raise a Child in the Way
     Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he grows older he will not abandon it, Proverbs 22:6. When children are raised according to the truth of Yahweh’s Word, they will have a firm foundation for life. But training up “a child[ren] in the way he [they] should go” requires both parents to be in agreement (echad) in order to eliminate confusion.
    For example: one parent believes the Bible and would teach the children Yahweh is the Creator and that they should obey Him, while the other parent who is an atheist would teach the children there is no Elohim and that they need only to do what they think is right.
    Diametrically opposed to each other, one position is selfless and the other, selfish. Little wonder, their children might become confused. Little wonder, too, their children would choose the path of least requirement: selfishness!
    Parents do not teach by words alone, but by deeds as well. Parents whose disposition toward their children is, “Do as I say,” without themselves doing as they say, will discover to their sorrow their children’s response of, “Monkey see, Monkey do.” Children learn most by their parents’ example. If, for example, one parent teaches smoking is bad, while the other parent is behind them smoking, that child will see and think, “Smoking? It’s ok!”
    Parents should agree on how to discipline their children. Disagreement can produce confusion and even, manipulation by the children as they discern which of the two parents is more permissive and which is more strict. A married couple should consider before becoming parents how they will, consistently, discipline their children and abide to their agreement, only though allowing for deviation from what was previously established ‘protocol’, when circumstance warrants that consideration.
    Finally, children learn what relationships look like from their parents’ behavior toward each other. This is why it’s extremely important for a child to see that their mom and dad love each other. And because children give notice to their parents’ relationship with each other, they have a model to inform their quest toward looking for these same attributes in a prospective marriage partner – whether those characteristics are loving, or abusive.

The Assembly, Like a Family
     Scripture likens Yahshua and the Assembly to a husband and wife. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 11:2, For I am jealous for you with a righteous jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you [as] a pure virgin to Messiah. And again, in Revelation 19:7, we read, Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.
    Corporately, the Assembly, though composed of individual members represented by husbands/fathers, wives/mothers, and children – each bringing some particular, complementary property to the family relationship – is likened to the bride of Messiah with Yahshua as Its Head. and informs what the foundational model of marriage and the family is supposed to look like.
    The Assembly is one family. Those who are baptized believers in Yahshua and who do the will of Yahweh are called brothers and sisters, or collectively, brethren (Matt. 12:50).

Conclusion
     Remember that husbands and wives are purposed by Yahweh and Yahshua to be echad – one in goal and purpose, and accomplished through having but one mind, speech, and judgment. They agree in faith and on a moral standard and in training and raising their children. This same attitude distinguishes the Assembly, purposed by its Head, Yahshua the Messiah, to be a beacon of light to those in the darkness of the world (Matt. 5:14-16) – preaching and teaching Yahweh’s Truth in word and deed, while preparing its members to live righteous lives in anticipation of Master Yahshua’s return.
    The Assemblies should affect the culture, rather than the culture influencing the spiritual polity of the Assemblies. With this in mind, we who remain faithful to Yahweh as the body of Messiah must do our due diligence to prevent becoming assimilated into what has emerged as the ‘new order’. We must maintain our house on the Rock (Yahshua), so that the storm will not prevail against us (Matt. 7:24-27). We are light the light of the world, and we must do our best to shine bright in this growing darkness. Even if the world around us falls, owing to the house of government and culture being divided, as long we in the Body remain echad in the unity of the faith – remember: a house divided against itself will not be able to stand, Mark 3:25 – we will not fall, because we are His house “if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end” (Heb. 3:6).